Annals of Music in America: A Chronological Record of Significant Musical Events

Henry Charles Lahee

Annals of Music in America: A Chronological Record of Significant Musical Events

Published by Good Press, 2022

goodpress@okpublishing.info

EAN 4064066223281

Table of Contents

PREFACE

ANNALS OF MUSIC IN AMERICA

Annals of Music in America

CHAPTER I

1640-1750

CHAPTER II

1750-1800

CHAPTER III

1800-1825

CHAPTER IV

1825-1850

CHAPTER V

1850-1875

CHAPTER VI

1875-1890

CHAPTER VII

1890-1900

CHAPTER VIII

1900

INDEX OF COMPOSITIONS

MISCELLANEOUS ITEMS

PREFACE

Table of Contents

The object of this book is to give as complete a record as possible of the beginning and progress of music in the United States of America.

The first things recorded are regarded as important. Hence such items as the printing of the first book on music, the importation of the first pipe organs, the establishment of the early musical societies are recorded, while similar events of a more recent date are of no special importance.

The first performance of significant works—operas, oratorios, symphonies and other choral and orchestral works—are chronicled as carefully as possible; also the first appearance in America of noted musicians.

It has been practically impossible to find accurate data about the works of the older composers,—Haydn, Mozart and others, for while there are many programs in which their names are mentioned the work played is seldom specified (see Mr. O. G. Sonneck's Early Concert-Life in America), and one must wait until the period arrives in which the work performed is specified. Probably some of the works mentioned had earlier performances by small organizations but the performances recorded here are in all probability the first adequate ones.

Among the items recorded are some which cannot be regarded as marking the musical progress of the country, and yet are items of musical interest;—the first performance of The Star-Spangled Banner and of America do not mark any progress and yet are historic events.

The establishment of Gilmore's Band and Sousa's Band are items of interest rather than of educational progress.

In compiling this work such newspapers as are available have been consulted, also the programs of the leading choral and orchestral societies. Valuable help has been gained from the excellent works of Mr. Oscar G. Sonneck, Mr. E. H. Krehbiel, Mr. Philip Goepp, Mr. George P. Upton, Allston Brown and other writers on the American stage, and above all from the admirable notes of Mr. Philip Hale in the programs of the Boston Symphony Orchestra. It would be ungracious to close this preface without acknowledging with gratitude the valuable assistance of Miss Barbara Duncan of the Boston Public Library.

HENRY C. LAHEE

ANNALS OF MUSIC IN AMERICA

Table of Contents

Annals of Music in America

Table of Contents

CHAPTER I

1640-1750

Table of Contents

The Annals of Music in America during the first hundred years contain very little that would seem to be of any importance to the musicians of today. Nevertheless it is as interesting to note the beginnings of music in this newly settled country as to watch the appearance of the baby's first tooth.

The first settlement at Plymouth took place in 1620, and we find that in 1640 the colonists were already busy with the printing press in Cambridge, Mass., and the second book which came from the press was a reprint of an English Psalm book, printed under the title of the Bay Psalm Book. This was not an original work, but its production shows that music was already a living problem, and was even then part of the life of the colonists.

Practically nothing more of note happened until the importation of the first pipe organ, in 1700. This was quickly followed by other similar instruments in different parts of the country, and even by the building of organs by Americans, the first being by John Clemm in New York, which contained three manuals and twenty-six stops, and the next by Edward Bromfield in Boston. Bromfield's organ had two manuals and 1200 pipes, but was not completed when he died in 1746.

The early history of music in New England, as handed down to us by writers on the subject, seems to have consisted chiefly of church singing, concerning which there were many controversies. The early composers of New England were mainly occupied in composing psalm tunes, and in teaching singing schools.

The accounts of secular music come chiefly from Charleston, S. C., at which place many musicians entered this continent after visiting the West Indies. In fact, the first song recital on record in America took place at Charleston in 1733, while Boston had a concert in 1731 and Charleston had one in 1732. Charleston also claims the first performance of ballad opera on record in America (1735).

It must not, however, be supposed that New England had no secular music. The concert above mentioned goes to show the contrary. Also there is a record of small wind instruments, such as oboes and flageolets, being brought to Boston for the purposes of trade—possibly with the idea that New England shepherds might play to their sheep, as shepherds in other countries are supposed to do.

We know that every farm had its spinning wheel and that clothes were made of the homespun woollens, but neither historian nor poet has ever pictured a New England shepherd with the shepherd's pipe. Imagination has not so far run riot.

Music was in a very elementary stage during the first hundred years. The country was sparsely populated, and music depends on the existence of a community. Even in 1750 the cows, according to tradition, were still occupied, during their daily peregrinations, in laying out the streets of the future city of Boston,—a city which was destined to be one of the leaders in matters musical.

Note.

When a work is mentioned as given or played or presented, it means the first performance in America. When produced or production or première is used the first public performance anywhere is indicated.

1640. The Bay Psalm Book published, first American book of sacred music. The second book printed in America.

1700. The first pipe organ to reach America from Europe was placed in the Episcopal Church at Port Royal, Va. About 1860 it was removed to Hancock, and later to Shepherdstown, W. Va.

1712. First practical instruction book on singing in New England, published by John Tufts of Newbury, Mass.

1713. First pipe organ brought into New England presented to King's Chapel, Boston, by Thomas Brattle. (Now in St. John's Chapel, Portsmouth, N. H.)

1720. First singing societies established in New England.

1716. First mention of the importation of flageolets, hautbois and other instruments, by Edward Enstone, of Boston.

1722. A playhouse existed near the market place, Williamsburg, Va. The first theatre known to exist in America.

1728. A pipe organ placed in Christ Church, Philadelphia.

1731. Dec. First concert recorded in Boston, given at the rooms of Mr. Pelham, near the Sun Tavern.

1732. April. A concert given for the benefit of Mr. Salter, at the Council Chamber, Charleston, S. C.

1733. A pipe organ placed in Trinity Church, Newport, R. I., being the second organ in New England.

1733. Feb. 26. First song recital recorded in America, given at the playhouse in Queen St., Charleston, S. C.

1735. Feb. 8. First performance of ballad opera on record in America—Flora, or Hob in the Well—given at the Courtroom, Charleston, S. C.

1735. July 1.—1794. Dec. 25. James Lyon, psalmodist. Probably the second American composer.

1736. Jan. 12. The first concert recorded in New York City, given for the benefit of Mr. Pachelbel. (Probably not the first concert given in that city.)

1737. First Pipe Organ completed in America, built by John Clemm, and placed in Trinity Church, New York City. Three manuals, twenty-six stops.

1737. Sept. 11—1791. May 9. Francis Hopkinson. The first American poet-composer.

1742. Moravian settlement established in Bethlehem, Pa. Became noted in musical matters.

1742. June. First Singstunde held at Bethlehem, Pa. Eighty people present.

1743. Records of this date show that two organs existed in the Moravian Church, Broad St., Philadelphia, Pa., and that stringed instruments were used in the services, also that instruments (violin, viola da braccio, viola da gamba, flutes and French horns) were played for the first time in the Moravian Church, Bethlehem, Pa.

1745-6. The first pipe organ built in New England, in Boston, by Edward Bromfield. Two manuals and twelve hundred pipes. Bromfield died in 1746 before completing the instrument.

1746. Oct. 7. William Billings, First New England composer, organizer of singing societies, etc. Billings died Sept. 29, 1800.

CHAPTER II

1750-1800

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The first item of especial interest in this period is the performance of the Beggar's Opera at the Theatre in Nassau Street, New York. This theatre was a rather tumbledown affair and was not built for the purpose. It had a platform and rough benches. The chandelier was a barrel hoop through which several nails were driven, and on these nails were impaled candles, which provided all the light, and from which the tallow was likely to drip on the heads of such of the audience as had the best seats.

But three years later (in 1753) Lewis Hallam, who had been giving performances with his company in the more southern States, got permission to build a theatre on the site of this old place, and the house was opened in September with a play, The Conscious Lovers, followed by a ballad farce, Damon and Phillida.

In 1759 we find the first avowedly musical organization in America, The Orpheus Club, was in existence in Philadelphia, and concerts were becoming more frequent. We also find a St. Cecilia Society founded in Charleston, S. C., an organization which lasted for a hundred and fifty years.

Other societies followed at short intervals and in widely scattered localities; the Handel Society of Dartmouth College, about 1780, the Stoughton (Mass.) Musical Society, 1786, and The Musical Society of New York City, all tend to show that social centres were developing, and the people were finding expression in music.

An indication of what had been growing by degrees is found in the reports of concerts. Mention of instruments such as violins, French horns, oboes, trombones, etc., was made here and there, and especially in connection with the Moravian settlements in Bethlehem, Pa., where was established the first music school.

We find the first mention of an orchestra made in connection with a performance of The Beggar's Opera at Upper Marlboro, Md., in 1752, and a few years later (1788) a great concert was given in Philadelphia with an orchestra of fifty and a chorus of two hundred performers.

There is also a record of a concert given in Charleston, S. C., in 1796, when an orchestra of thirty instruments was employed in a performance of Gluck's overture to Iphegénie en Aulide, and Haydn's Stabat Mater.

It is quite possible that orchestras were used more or less in other concerts. Mr. Sonneck shows, in his Early Concert-Life in America, many programs in which orchestral works are mentioned. And it is well to state here that it is almost impossible to locate the first performance in America of many of the works of the older composers, including Haydn and Mozart, because no opus number is mentioned, nor anything to indicate the identity of the work. Pleyel, Gluck and Clementi were much in vogue.

The American composer was beginning to be heard from during this period. Francis Hopkinson, who is generally regarded as the first American composer, wrote, in 1759, a song with the title My Days Have Been So Wondrous Free. Some time later, in 1788, a small volume of songs was published under the title Seven Songs, by the same composer.

Francis Hopkinson was a well-educated man, a signer of the Declaration of Independence, a member of the Convention of 1787 which formulated the Constitution of the United States, first Judge of the Admiralty Court in Pennsylvania, and author of many pamphlets and poems.

A man of entirely different calibre was William Billings, who was considered the first composer in New England. His compositions were chiefly fuguing tunes, and he published several psalm books.

Billings was a tanner by trade, but a great musical enthusiast and organizer. The Stoughton (Mass.) Musical Society, which is the oldest musical society still in existence, was organized by Billings. Lack of education was no bar to his activities, and he accomplished much with very limited means.

It is said that Billings introduced the bass viol into the services of the Church, and thus began to break down the ancient Puritanical prejudices against musical instruments. He was also the first to use the pitch-pipe in order to ensure some degree of certainty in striking up the tune in church.

Again, we find the first American ballad operas during this period. Benjamin Carr, an Englishman who had been in America a couple of years, produced in 1796 a ballad opera, The Archers of Switzerland, and, shortly afterwards, in the same year, with Pellesier (a Frenchman of recent arrival) as librettist, another ballad opera, Edwin and Angelina, was staged in New York City. Though these works could hardly be called distinctively American, they were the first composed and produced in this country.

During the last decade of the 18th century some French actors and singers invaded the country and made New Orleans their headquarters. From that time on, for many years, New Orleans was prominent in the production of French operas and plays.

Theatres were built in several of the larger cities, and noted singers began to appear from abroad. The first of these appears to have been Miss Broadhurst, who appeared in Philadelphia in 1793, at the Chestnut Street Theatre. She was closely followed by Mrs. Oldmixon.

1750. April 30. The Mock Doctor, and Dec. 3, The Beggar's Opera, given at the Theatre in Nassau St., New York City. The first performances of ballad opera on record in that city.

1750. A Collegium Musicum was established about this time at Bethlehem, Pa.

1752. Sept. 14. First record of an orchestra being employed, at a performance of The Beggar's Opera at Upper Marlborough, Md.

1753. Sept. 13. The first theatre (built for the purpose) in New York City, erected in August and opened in September with The Conscious Lovers followed by the ballad farce, Damon and Phillida, given by Lewis Hallam's company.

1754. First concert hall in Boston opened by Gilbert Deblois, at the corner of Hanover and Courts Sts.

1756. Mar. 16. New organ built by Gilbert Ash, dedicated at the City Hall, New York City, when an organ-concerto by G. A. Hasse was played.

In the same year a new organ was placed in King's Chapel, Boston, replacing the Brattle organ.

1756. The first mention of French horns in America made by Benjamin Franklin, writing of the fine music in the church at Bethlehem, Pa., where flutes, oboes, French horns, and trumpets were accompanied by the organ.

1757. Dr. Arne's Masque of Alfred given in Philadelphia by the students of the College of Philadelphia.

1759. The first known American song, My Days Have Been so Wondrous Free, composed by Francis Hopkinson.

1759. The first avowedly musical organization in America, The Orpheus Club, existed in Philadelphia, and was probably founded about this time.

1761. Feb. 3. Concert given by Mr. Dipper, organist of King's Chapel, Boston, in which two French horns were used. First mention of this instrument in New England.

1761. Urania, or a Choice Collection of Psalm Tunes, Anthems, and Hymns, from the most approved Authors, published in Philadelphia, by James Lyon, A.B.

1762. A St. Cecilia Society (which lasted for one hundred and fifty years) formed in Charleston, S. C.

1765. A concert of Musical Glasses given in Philadelphia.

1765. June 3. The New York Mercury announced a series of summer concerts (open air) to be given at Ranelagh Gardens. These concerts were continued for four years.

1769. First American spinet made by John Harris, in Boston.

1770. Jan. 9. Handel's Messiah performed in part (sixteen numbers) at Trinity Church, New York City.

1770. Milton's Masque of Comus given by the Hallam Company, in Philadelphia.

1770. The New England Psalm Singer published in Boston, by William Billings.

1770, The pipe organ said to have been used for the first time in a Congregational church in America (Philadelphia).

1774. John Behrent, of Philadelphia, said to have made the first American piano.

1780. (c) The Handel Society of Dartmouth College organized at Hanover, N. H.

1784. A Harmonic Society formed about this time at Fredericksburg, Va.

1786. Stoughton (Mass.) Musical Society formed by William Billings, with Squire Elijah Dunbar of Canton as President; probably oldest singing society now in existence in America.

1786. Nov. 9. A society formed in New York City, at Mr. Hulett's rooms, for promoting vocal music.

1787. Uranian Society formed in Philadelphia for the improvement of church music. Continued till 1800.

1787. First pipe organ west of the Alleghanies set up in Cookstown (now Fayette City), Pa. Built by Joseph Downer, who was born in Brookline, Mass., 1767 (Jan. 28) and trekked to Pennsylvania with his family. The organ is preserved at the Carnegie Institute, Pittsburgh.

1788. May 4. A great concert given with an orchestra of fifty and a chorus of two hundred, in the Reformed German Church in Philadelphia, Pa.

1788. The Musical Society of New York City established.

1788. Publication of a book entitled Seven Songs by F. Hopkinson (1737-1791), the first publication in America of songs by a native composer.

1789. May. 15. Concert given at Salem, Mass., by Gottlieb Graupner in which first mention is made of the use of the oboe (hautbois) in New England.

1790. June 4. A company of French comedians gave a performance, in French, of the opera The Mistress and Maid at Baltimore, Md.

1790. Oct. 7. First performance in America of Audinet-Gossec's Le Tonnelier given at the City Tavern, New York City.

1790-1800. During this period the following musical works were known and performed in New Orleans, Charleston, S. C., Baltimore, Philadelphia and New York City: Rousseau's Pygmalion and Devin du Village; Dalayrac's Nina and L'Amant Statue; Monsigny's Déserteur; Grétry's Zémire et Azor, La Fausse Magic and Richard Coeur de Lion, by a company of French comedians.

1791. A Cecilia Society formed in New York City. Lasted but a short time. An Apollo Society was also in existence.

1792. Oliver Holden, composer of Coronation and other well known hymn tunes, published his American Harmony, and in 1793, The Union Harmony.

1792-1872. Lowell Mason. Composer, educator in music. First teacher of singing in the public schools. President of the Handel and Haydn Society, Boston.

1793. Uranian Society of New York City, organized for sacred vocal music.

1793. Miss Broadhurst, a noted singer, made her American début in Philadelphia.

1793. Jacob Kimball (1761-1826, born Topsfield, Mass.,) published his Rural Harmony.

1793. A company of French players reached America from San Domingo, remaining three years. They played in Norfolk, Va., in 1793, Charleston, S. C., 1794, Richmond, Va., 1795, Boston, Jan. 1796, and Philadelphia, Dec. 1796.

1793. A Cecilia Society was in existence at this time in Newport, R. I.

1794. Paisiello's opera The Barber of Seville (English version) was played in Baltimore, Philadelphia, New York City and elsewhere.

1794. Mrs. Oldmixon, a noted singer, made her first appearance in America at the Chestnut St. Theatre, Philadelphia, in Robin Hood.

1796. April 18. The Archers of Switzerland, an opera by B. Carr, produced in New York City. It is claimed by some authorities that this was the first American opera.

1796. July. Gluck's overture to Iphegénie en Aulide, and Haydn's Stabat Mater, given in Charleston, S. C., with an orchestra of about thirty instruments. Mrs. Pownall, J. H. Harris and Mr. Bergman, soloists.

1796. Dec. 19. Production in New York City of Edwin and Angelina, music by Pellesier. Also said to be the first opera of American composition. (Carr was English, Pellesier French.)

1797. Anniversary meeting of the Concord (N. H.) Musical Society.

1797. Jan. 25. First recorded performance in America of Grétry's opera, Richard Coeur de Lion, given at the Federal St. Theatre, Boston.

1798. Columbia Garden Summer Concerts established in New York. Lasted till 1800.

1798. Concerts are on record as having been given at Albany, N. Y., April 18; New Brunswick, N. J., Dec. 11; Trenton, N. J., Dec. 18; also an interesting group in Salem, Mass., by Gottlieb Graupner.

1798. Jan. 29. Park Theatre opened in New York City with a performance of a musical piece entitled The Purse,—or American Tar. This theatre was, for twenty years, important in local musical history.

1798. April 25. First public performance of Hail Columbia by Gilbert Fox in Philadelphia. The words were written by Joseph Hopkinson Smith (1770-1842) and sung to the tune of The President's March. First sung under the title of Federal Song but changed a few days later to Hail Columbia.

1799. A Musical Society existed in Baltimore.

1799. Euterpean Society formed in New York City.

1799. The Vintage, an American opera by Pellesier and Dunlap, produced in New York City.

CHAPTER III

1800-1825

Table of Contents

In 1800 we find the first mention of the use of the bassoon. This was in Bethlehem, Pa., and it seems to complete the list of instruments for the average orchestra. Notwithstanding the record of the importation of oboes, many years earlier, and the fact that Graupner, one of the leading musicians in Boston about this time, was, or had been an oboeist, some historian has stated that even well into the nineteenth century there was only one oboe player in the United States, and he lived in Baltimore. Surely this must be an error.

In December 1800 we find the first annual concert of the Philharmonic Society in New York City. This society died in a few years, and in 1820 another Philharmonic Society was formed. This society also dwindled, though it did not die, for in 1840 it was reorganized, and has ever since taken a leading part in the musical life of New York.

Many musical societies made a beginning. Few lived long. But of those which lived perhaps the most noted is the Handel and Haydn Society of Boston, formed in 1815. This society gave what was claimed to be the first complete performance of Handel's Messiah, but it is also claimed that this was done in 1801 in the hall of the University of Pennsylvania.

The Handel and Haydn Society also gave what was called the first complete performance of Haydn's Creation, an honor which is also ascribed to King's Chapel in 1816, while portions had been performed in 1811 at Bethlehem, Pa. Thus it is difficult to fix definitely the first performances of many of the large works.